Green River and Somerset, Kentucky

MARCH 1, 1862.]

HARPER'S WEEKLY.

141

CAMP OF FOURTH KENTUCKY REGIMENT, NEAR SOMERSET, KY., LATELY OCCUPIED BY SEVENTEENTH TENNESSEE REGIMENT (REBEL).—[SKETCHED BY MR. OSCAR D. KRESS.]

(Previous Page) old Government, in the service of which his father spent his life. Laying aside all personal considerations, he tendered his aid putting down the rebellion, and was assigned to a boat which has beer built chiefly under his superintendence. He christened it, after his father's ship, the Essex. At the battle of Fort Henry Captain Porter ran up

within one hundred and fifty yards of the fort, and fought with daring and effect until he was scalded by the fatal ball which entered at one of the bow-ports, passing through the boiler. He was blown out of the same port, and would have been lost but for the heroic daring of a seaman, John Walker, who rushed through the scalding steam after him,

and caught him just as he was going overboard, and carried him aft along the outer-guard, a space just nine inches in width. Of this act the Captain speaks in the most grateful terms.

The Captain had the presence of mind to close his mouth and eyes, so that his scald is not serious. He is under the very tender and efficient care of

Surgeon Thomas Rice, who proved his skill by the manner in which he attended the wounded on board the Essex after and during the battle.

It is hoped that the Captain's face will not be disfigured. He says he went into the fight with high colors, and though disabled, the stars and stripes still waved as he floated back.

GENERAL MITCHELL'S DIVISION CROSSING GREEN RIVER, KENTUCKY, OCTOBER 10, 1862.—SKETCHED BY MR. H. MOSLER.—[SEE PAGE 130.]